Street sweeper



F. G. HOUGH STREET SWEEPER May 7, 1940.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1938 mm m k m d w a. M wk 1m M r f y 7, 1940. F. G. HOUGH 2,199,703

STREET SWEEPER Filed on. 5, 1938 s sheets-sheet 2 Fig.2

May 7, 1940. HQUGH 2,199,703

ST REET SWEEPER Filed Oct. 5, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 3 iii Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT omen STREET SWEEPER Frank G. Hough,0hicago, Ill.

Application' october 5,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to streetsweepers and more particularly to the type of sweepers where- .in provision is made to ick up the sweepings and deposit them in a suita le bin'in the sweeper and generally known-as a pick-up type of street sweeper. v I

The principalobject'of the invention. is to provide a pick-up type street sweeper of simple and substantial design which will perform its intended functions in an eflicient manner under all operating conditions. 7

Another object is to utilize a commercially built tractor in the construction of a pick-up type street'sweeper wherein the tractor motor,

' through'the rear or drive wheels of the tractor,

provides the motive power of the sweeper and the tractor motor also drives the operating parts of the sweeping elements.

A further object is to utilize a commercially built tractor in the construction of a pick-up typestreet sweeper and distribute the entire weight of the tractor and of the gutter broom and its associated parts on the rear axle of the tractor which'becomes the front axle of the sweeper, and the weight of the main sweeping element, water tank and contents, conveyor and dirt receiving bin and contents, and the associated framework between the sweepers front and rear axle whereby the weight of the tractor and gutter broom and its associated parts are more than counterbalanced over the tractor rear axle by the weight of the main sweeping element, water tank, conveyor, dirt receivingbin, and the associated framework.

A still further object'is to utilize a commercially built tractor in the construction of a pick-up type street sweeper by eliminating the front wheels and axle thereof and building the main sweeping element, water tank, conveyor, dirt receiving bin and associated framework rearward of the rear axle of the ractor and a steering wheel at the extreme rear of the sweeper.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein a selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the right-hand side of a sweeper embodying the invention and wherein the sheet metal cover for the device has been removed to better illustrate the arrangement of parts;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the left-hand side of the sweeper showing the cover in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail view-of part of the mecha nism for transmitting power from the tractor motor to the main sweeping element;

1938, Serial No. 233,353

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the means for positioning the gutter broom, the full lines showing the position of the parts when the gutter broom is in inoperative position and the broken lines showing the position of the parts when the gutter broom is in operative position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing some of the parts brokenaway; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the front end of the sweeper.

In constructing the sweeper of this'invention I utilize an ordinary commercially procurable tractor of any of the various makes to be found on the market and eliminate the front'axle and front wheels thereof. Imay also use a tractor of the endless tread type by removing the endless treads and installing drive wheels on the rear of the drive shaft or axle thereof which normally used in driving the endless treads. For the purpose of this description and the illustrations in the drawings I have shown the utilization of .a wheel type tractor, however, comprising the usual rear or drive'wheels l and a motor under the hood 8. I also utilize the steering wheel 9 and steering column III of the tractor but remove the connections to the front wheels of the tractor which normally steer the device and connect it to a pilot wheel II-, as will be more fully described hereinafter. A frame generally indicated by l2 has axle housing engaging members I3 and I at the front thereof and extending forwardly on both sides of the sweeper. The members l3 are adapted to be secured to the top of the rear axle housing of the tractor at the ends thereof, and the axle housing engaging members M are adapted to be secured to the bottom of the rear axle housing of the tractor at the ends thereof and substantially beneath the members I3. The members I have extensions l5 extending forwardly therefrom which are secured, bybolts Hi, to the tractor frame; H, or in theevent the particular tractorused is constructed without a frame then the extensions l5 are bolted directly to the block or crank case of the motor.

An upright frame member [8 is secured to the members l3 and I4 and. has a main frame member l9 extending rearwardly therefrom and secured rigidly thereto. A pilot wheel yoke is, pivotally mounted at 2| in the frame at the rear end thereof, and the pilot wheel II has an axle 22 mounted in the yoke 20. A suitable quadrant and chain connection 23 comprising a quadrant pivotally mounted on the frame and a chain fixed to the periphery of the quadrant and adapted to ride thereon during operation of the connection wheel I I.

andengaging the yoke 26 to pivot the yoke upon pivotal movement of the quadrant, is used for controlling the directional movement of the The quadrant is connected to and operated by a crank arm secured thereto and to .a steering rod 24 extending forwardly to a lever 25 rigidly secured to a countershaft 26. The countershaft is operatively connected by a rod 21, lever 28'and shaft 29 to the steering column l6. Thusit will be seen that operation of the steering wheel 9 will rotate the yoke 29 at its pivotal connection in the frame to swing the pilot wheel II to the right or to the left as may be desired for steering the sweeper.

A sweeping element such as a brush 30 is rotatably mounted in arms 3| at the sides of the sweeper. The arms 3| are pivotally mounted on brackets 32 which are rigidly secured to the frame. The brush is rotated in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 1 and 2, by power from the engine of the tractor. A shaft 33 suitably connected to the rear power take-off of the tractor operates suitable gears in a gear box 34 to drive shaft 35 which, in turn, drives suitable gears in a gear box 36 to drive the cross shaft 31, Fig. 2. A sprocket 38 is mounted on the end of shaft 31 at one side of the sweeper and drives another sprocket 49 on a shaft 4| through chain 39. The shaft 4| is mounted in the brackets 32. The shaft 4| is the main drive shaft for the brush 30 and for the elevator generally indicated by 42 and to be described hereinafter. It will also be noted that the arms 3| do their pivoting about the shaft 4|. The drive shaft 4| drives a sprocket 43 through a chain 44. The sprocket 43 is rigidly secured to the axle of the brush 36.

The elevator 42 is of any suitable construction but is preferably of that type generally having endless chains at either side thereof and buckets arranged between and secured to the chains at their ends so that dirt swept up by the brush under the elevator will, in the operation of the chains, be carried upwardly by the buckets to the top of the elevator and when the buckets go over the top the dirt will be discharged into a suitable bin 45 through an opening 59 therein. The elevator chains are driven from the shaft 4| and a sprocket wheel 46.through the chain 41. The sprocket wheel 46 is mounted on a shaft 49 which is secured in bearings 49 mounted on the frame l2. The entire elevator 42 is supported from the shaft 48 and is free to pivot slightly thereon.

A shoe 5| is arranged at either side of the machine just outside the ends of the brush 39. The shoe tends to keep the bristles of the brush in line and prevents their flaring outwardly at the ends of the brush and further confines the dirt swept by the brush to within the space defined by the ends thereof, and thus prevents the sweepings from being thrown sideways outside of the path of travel of the brush. The shoes are pivoted at 52 to arm 53 which themselves are pivoted at 54 to brackets 55 secured to the frame I2.

The inherent weight of the brush shoe and bottom end of the elevator is more than it is desired to have resting on the ground during a sweeping operation and hence I provide springs to relieve a predetermined portion of this weight. Springs 56 are secured at one end to the frame and at the other end to chains 51, which chains are also secured to the arms: 3| at or near the mounting of the axle for the brush. Thus part of the weight of the brush is carried by the springs 56 and enables the brush to more readily follow the contour of the road surface being swept. Springs 58 are likewise secured to the frame at one end and to chains 59 and 69 at v It is desirable to remove the brush and shoe from contact with the ground when transporting the machine from one point to another when sweeping between the points is not desired. Under the same circumstances it is desirable to raise the bottom end of the elevator from its normal position in close proximity to the ground to avoid damage thereto by any object which may be in its path. To thus raise the brush I provide an hydraulic ram 6| secured to the frame and operable through a suitable hydraulic pump connected to the tractor motor and a valve under control of the operator and a pipe line 62. The ram is connected to a bell crank 63 pivoted on a shaft 64 extending transversely of the machine and mounted on the frame. The other end of the bell crank 63 and a lever 65 on the opposite end of the shaft 64 have chains 66 secured thereto. The chains 66 are also secured to-the arms 3|. Opening of the valve in the pipe line 62 by the operator introduces the fluid into the ram 6| forcing the plunger thereof downwardly and pivoting the bell crank 63 and rotating the shaft 64 to raise the chains 66 and the arms 3| and the brush 39 so that the brush will rise out of contact with the ground. The chains 59 and are also secured to the chains 66 so that when the chains 66 are raised by operation of the ram 6| the chains 59 and 60 will raise the shoes 5| at the lower end of the elevator 42. The links of all of the chains are so adjusted that the brush will rise slightly in advance of the shoes 6| and the shoes 5| will rise slightly in advance of the bottom of the elevator 42. This is for the reason a that it is desirable to raise the brush slightly before .the shoes start to rise and it is also desirable to raise the shoes slightly before the lower end of the elevator starts to rise, thus assuring that each of the elements are out of the way before the following element starts to move. Wear on the brush bristles and on the ground engaging portion of the shoes may be compensated for by changing the engaging links of the chains.

The bin 45 is provided at its lower end with a door 61 pivoted at 69 to the bin. The door is normally kept in closed position by a chain 69 extending over the free end of the door and secured on one side to the frame at 19. The chain passes through suitable guides 1| fast at the free end of the door. The chain .69 passes about a roller .12 secured in the frame and about another roller 13 secured on the end of an hydraulic ram 14. The chain after passing about the roller 13 is securely fastened to the frame at 15. The ram 14 is operated similarly to the ram 6| through a suitable valve under control of the operator and pipe line 16. It will be seen that when pressure to the ram is relieved the roller 13 will be retracted, slackening the chain 69 and permitting the door 61 to swingabout its pivot at 68, thus .opening the door and allowing the dirt in the bin to be discharged. Operation of the valve will again send pressure through the pipe line 16 into the ram 14, extending the-roller 13 outwardly to tighten the chain 69, thus closing the door 61. 2

My device embodies a somewhat conventional type of gutter broom 11 arranged forwardly of the wheels Tpreferably on the right-hand side of the machine. A suitable gear box 18 is se= cured to the front power take-off and operates a shaft 19 extending through a housing 89 to another suitable gear box 8| to operate another shaft passing through the housing 82 to a third gear box 83 to operate a vertical shaft 84 on the bottom of which the gutter broom I1 is secured. It will thus be seen that the gutter broom obtains its rotative action from the front power take-off of the tractor. The housing is rigidly secured to a frame member 85 extending forwardly from the tractor motor. The gear box 8| is connected to the housing 89 so that the broom l1, gear box 83 and housing 82 may be pivoted on the axis of the housing 80. A lever 86 extending back to a position where it is within easy reach of the operator is pivoted at 81 on a suitable bracket 'on the housing 89. The lever is also secured at 88 to a lever 89 rigidly secured to a sleeve 90 mounted on a shaft 9|. The shaft 9| is rigidly secured to the frame member 85 and another frame member 92 is similarly arranged but on the opposite side of the tractor motor. The shaft 9| extends from the frame member 92 through the frame member 85 well out to the side of the machine, and it is on this latter end portion of the shaft that the sleeve 99 is mounted. A yoke 93 is secured to the sleeve and at its outer end has a roller 94 mounted therein. The housing 82 rests on the roller 94. when the operator pulls on the lever 88 when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in broken lines in Fig. 4, the lever 89 is operated to turn the sleeve about the shaft 9|, raising the lever 93 and roller 94 and consequently the housing 82, thus removing the broom 'I'l fromcontact with the ground. The lever 88 between the point 88 and its pivot 81 and the lever 89 provide an over-center device to hold the broom in raised position. At this point the levers take the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. To place the gutter broom again in contact with the ground, the operator pushes on the lever '88 to return it to the broken line position shown in Fig. 4.

It is often desirable to dampen the road or street forwardly of the brooms so that the violent sweeping action of the brooms will not raise too much objectionable dust. To this end I provide a. water tank 95 which is connected by a suitable pipe 96 to a pump 91 located at the front of the tractor and operated through a chain 98 from the shaft 19. The pump is connected by pipe 99 to a transverse pipe I08 having suitable nozzles ||i| therein. The pipe I90 is arranged transversely of the sweeper at the extreme front thereof and the nozzles |0| are directed downwardly to spray the road or street in advance of the sweeper with water to dampen the dirt and dust thereon.

It will, of course, be provision is built into the tractor to control operation of the front and rear power take-offs so understood that suitable that by operation of these controls operation of the broom 39, gutter broom 11 and pump-91 may be controlled by the operator of the sweeper. A cover or hood I92 of sheet metal is arranged over the top of the bin 45, conveyor 42, tank 95 and secured to the frame l2. The hood extends ownwardly on both sides of the machine to approximately even with the axle for the wheels I and the axle for the wheel Thus all of the working parts of the sweeper are enclosed to confine the dust stirred up by the broom 39.

It will readily be seen that my device provides for an efficient, simple and substantial sweeper, the cost of manufacture of which will be low and which is adapted to utilize a commercially procurable tractor for its motive and driving power.

While I have shown and described a selected embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a street sweeper of the pick-up type, the combination of a tractor including a motor. a driving axle. a housing for said axle rigidly secured to said motor, and a drive wheel on each end of said axle, said motor being arranged forwardly of and overhanging said axle housing. a sweeper frame rigidly secured to said axle housing and extending rearwardly thereof, a main broom mounted on said frame, an elevator mounted on said frame with its lower end in cooperative relation with said main broom to receive dirt swept up by said broom and elevate the dirt to the top of the sweeper, means operatively connecting the broom and elevator to the rear power take-01f of the tractor motor. a bin mounted on said frame and arranged in cooperative relation with the top end of said elevator to receive dirt therefrom, and a third wheel pivotally secured to said frame at the rear thereof. the weight of the tractor motor being more than counterbalanced over said tractor axle by the weight of the parts arranged rearwardly of the axle.

2. In a street sweeper of the pick-up type, the combination of a tractor including .a motor, a driving axle, a housing for said axle rigidly secured to said motor, and a drive wheel on each end of said axle, said motor being arranged forwardly of and overhanging said axle housing, a sweeper frame having a pair of members on each side of said frame and extending forwardly thereof, one of said forwardly extending members of each pair secured to the top of said axle housing and the other member of each pair secured to the bottom of said axle housing, a sweeping element, and a third wheel, saidelement and third wheel mounted on said frame and arranged rearwardly of said axle.

FRANK G. HOUGH. 

